CTN Animation Expo

Headed down to Burbank this past weekend to check out the second annual CTN Animation Expo. It was a blast and a great shot of inspiration! It was great to see so many of my friends from the industry and from Animation Mentor. The presentations were fascinating all around, including a Megamind presentation by Jason Schleifer! Here are a few other highlights:

Got to visit and get a tour of Dreamworks' beautiful Glendale campus.

Caught a presentation by legendary drawing instructor Glen Vilppu.

Fascinating "How to Train Your Dragon" Flight School panel with Professor of Biology Stuart Sumida, and Dragon's head of character animation, Simon Otto.

THE Eric Goldberg (The Genie, Louis the Gator, etc.) working on an actual Rabbit shot from "Winnie the Pooh"!!!

"Untangling the Look of 'Tangled'" panel, including directing animators John Kahrs and Clay Katis.

Animation LEGEND Andreas Deja. Roger Rabbit, Gaston, Scar, Jafar, Lilo, Mama Odie, and more. This guy drew my childhood! I couldn't have been any more of a geek.

Andreas animating some Tigger poses. Can't wait for "Pooh"

Pixar animators panel with Carlos Baena, Aaron Hartline, Michael Makarewicz, and Victor Navone. Moderated by Andreas Deja.

Two of my favorite character designers, Carter Goodrich and Peter de Seve

Wrapped up the weekend with a screening of Tangled at Walt Disney Animation Studios! Such a fun and beautiful film. Sure to be a new Disney classic and chock full of gorgeous animation!

With my brain all packed with all kinds of inspiration, set off for a late night drive back up north.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Last Day on Megamind

Yesterday was my last official day on Megamind. It's been a crazy experience coming in this late on the film, but it's been great working with so many ridiculously talented animators. They've been pouring so much hard work into this film and I can't wait to see how it turns out all finished up. That will be November 5th, 2010!

Photo courtesy of Dreamworks Animation SKG

Megamind kicks off Comic-Con

In case you missed the Megamind madness at Comic-Con yesterday, here's an article as well as 4 minutes of new footage from the film. Beware, a little spoilerific.

- Article (with video of the panel)

- Footage:

Megamind Trailer Premiere!

Hey friends and family, Yahoo has the trailer premiere for the film I'll (soon) be working on. Check it out!

First Day at PDI/Dreamworks

I can't believe I've already been in the Bay Area for three weeks! It really has flown by. I've finally got internet hooked up in my apartment so I thought I'd finally post some pics from my first day at PDI. It was, like most experiences in my animation career, an opportunity for me to completely geek out!

I wanna be just like Pete Docter when I grow up!

Just sayin'. But seriously, I got to go see his QnA at the Dallas International Film Festival today and what an inspiring guy to listen to. It's just so obvious that he loves what he does so much. The QnA was followed by a screening of "Up" and I'm pretty sure I cried even more than the last few times I've watched it.

Last day at Reel FX

Had a great time with a fantastic group of people!

Migrating North!

Hey all - my time at Reel FX has been awesome!!! I've had a blast working on two really fun projects and I've met so many great people that I sincerely hope to work with again in the future.

In a week I'll be heading north to Redwood City, CA, to start work as a cycles animator at PDI/Dreamworks! I can't tell you how excited I am to work on their upcoming film, MegaMind. Any of you friends and AM folks in the Bay Area - give me a holler!

Photos property of Dreamworks Animation L.L.C.

Canvas For a Cause

"Canvas for a Cause" is a charity event that Reel FX puts on each year. Every employee is given a canvas and allowed to create any piece of art we would like. The finished pieces are then sold at a gallery show held at the studio. 100% of the proceeds as well as proceeds from a silent auction go to Children's Medical Center in Dallas. It's been way too long since I've painted anything traditionally, so I thought this would be the perfect excuse to get back into it. I decided to use a gouache liftout technique to paint a still life of one of my favorite subjects: beer. A black and tan, specifically. My inspiration came from a bunch of photos I took this St. Patrick's Day, and chopped together into a comp. I thought it would be fun to document my process, which you can check out in the video below. All in all it was a lot of fun. Hopefully it won't be another few years before I pick up a paintbrush again! The gallery show is tomorrow night. I'll keep my fingers crossed that someone will be willing to buy it up to help support the Children's Medical Center!

Painting process from a guy who doesn't know how to paint. from Nelson Brown on Vimeo.

Dave Lisbe in the makeshift fine art studio.

Snowy Reel FX!

This isn't the Texas weather I'VE heard about!

First week at Reel FX

My workspace. Note the classy potted plant. Thank goodness it's plastic, so I won't be responsible for killing it. Monday was my first day at Reel FX in Dallas! So far I've gotten my first two shots assigned, sat in on dailies with the director, and constantly hounded the poor supervisors with my incessant questions. Actually, everyone's been really nice and helpful, and I'm really excited about the projects I'll be a part of!


Oh, and they've really made me feel welcome:

Migrating South!

I'm pleased to announce I've accepted a job as an animator at Reel FX Creative Studios! In just over a week I'll be zipping down to Dallas to start work on commercials for Shrek 4. I know there are quite a few mentors and fellow grads from my school down there, so I'm really excited to work with some folks that I can learn a lot from!

I will of course be keeping in touch with all my friends and family here in Washington, and hopefully making new friends down in Texas!

AM Graduation!

This past weekend I got to meet up with my fellow graduates for Animation Mentor's 7th graduation ceremony! If you've ever attended an AM graduation you know it is quite a show. My family came down to share the time with me and we got to celebrate my mother's birthday in San Fran as well.

What other graduation ceremony starts off with ninja action?!




















Carlos's Avatar getup.
















The Founders! Shawn Kelly, Carlos Baena, and Bobby Beck.





















Gradeatin'




















Bobby BOOM!




















Nicole Herr, my class 1 mentor!




















Fellow grads Emilie Goulet and Rob Somers, watch out for these guys!































Fellow grad, Washingtonian, game animator and video ref partner... Dennis DeMercer!










My wonderful and supportive family!

Demo Reel

Update with some new polish.

Click here for a higher quality Quicktime version